Clinical Psychologist

Transformation Unit; Birkenhead; Hybrid; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Part time

Job summary

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in Birkenhead seeks a Clinical Psychologist (Band 7) to join the CMHT, primarily for older adults. This 12-month fixed-term post is 0.77 WTE with flexible hours, offering multidisciplinary assessments and interventions for complex mental health needs.

You will contribute to case discussions, supervision, and training; undertake neuropsychological assessments and apply therapies across clinic and community settings.

Qualifications

• Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology.
• Additional Psychotherapy qualification.
• Core NHS/Social Services professional training.

Responsibilities

• Develop clinical and professional skills through the Wirral CMHT and links to DClinPsych courses.
• Provide neuropsychological assessment and work with dementia in care settings.
• Work in clinic and community settings with travel around Wirral; participate in workshops and supervision.

Education

Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology

Additional Psychotherapy qualification

Core NHS/Social Services professional training

Job description

Main area Clinical Psychologist Grade Band 7 Contract Fixed term: 12 months (The post holder will be required to cover all CMHTs within the locality) Hours Part time - 29 hours per week (Monday- Friday the service operates 9-5) Job ref 373-SMH2805

Employer Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS FoundationTrust Employer type NHS Site Stein Centre. St Catherine's Hospital Town Birkenhead Salary £49,387 - £56,515 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 22/11/2026 23:59

Clinical Psychologist

Band 7

Job overview

We are looking for an enthusiastic Clinical Psychologist to join our Birkenhead CMHT working primarily with older people. This vacancy is a 12 month fixed-term post to cover maternity leave, offered at 0.77 WTE. The CMHT offers multi-disciplinary assessment and intervention for people with complex mental health needs.

Alongside direct therapeutic work with individuals and their families, you would also support the delivery of psychologically informed care and care planning through case discussions, MDT meetings, supervision, training and consultation. The post also offers opportunity to complete neuropsychological assessment and to work more systemically, for example with those living with dementia in care settings. Being a community role, therapeutic work takes place in both clinic and community settings, so travel around Wirral is expected. We have a well-established programme of psychologically led workshops for the wider team that the post holder could contribute to as an opportunity to build leadership skills. The Trust has a growing team of older adult psychologists who offer peer support and neuropsychological supervision. The postholder would also be joining a well-established Wirral CMHT psychology team with wide-ranging skills and the support of assistant psychologists. This may afford opportunity to build skills in the supervision of others.

Main duties of the job

This post will enable the development of a wide range of clinical and professional skills. The team has links to the North West DClinPsych courses and offers clinical placements. This post is being offered as a band 7 which would be commenced as a 7-8a development post, therefore the candidate would be supported to develop their skills and competencies according to a structured development process.

We would welcome applications from newly qualified clinical psychologists. However, we would also be keen to hear from clinical psychologists at other stages of their profession, if interested. We are open to discussions around working hours and flexible working, if it meets the requirements of the service. This role may also be suitable as a secondment opportunity.

Working for our organisation

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.

We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport.

Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.

As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.

All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.

Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you’ll find something to suit you at CWP.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please download a copy of the job description (see ‘documents to download’ section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.

At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.

CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trust’s Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.

Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust’s Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trust’s Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.

If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’

Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £15 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996)
• Additional Psychotherapy qualification
• Core NHS/Social Services professional training

Knowledge and Expertise

• Skills in conducting complex psychological assessment and intervention frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration
• Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex and /or clinically sensitive information to clients and professional colleagues within and outside the NHS
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Skills in providing Consultation to other professionals and nonprofessional groups
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health.
• Knowledge of supervision theory and practice.
• Skills in working with people with complex and specialist needs.
• Ability to apply psychological knowledge creatively in developing new initiatives.

Experience

• Experience of engaging and sustaining work with complex clients
• Experience of exercising clinical responsibility for clients’ psychological care.
• Experience of liaison with other health professionals

Trust Values

• Demonstrate alignment with Trust Values (6 C’s: Commitment, Communication, Care, Courage, Compassion, Competency)

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Informal discussions and visits are encouraged.